Educational attainment rate … short-cycle tertiary non-immigrant in Ireland
Ireland: Educational attainment rate … short-cycle tertiary non-immigrant was 43.7% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Educational attainment rate, completed short-cycle tertiary education in Ireland, 2006–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for educational attainment rate, completed short-cycle tertiary education in Ireland is 43.7%, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 18 years on record.
That represents a change of up 9.2% on the previous year and up 39.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, educational attainment rate, completed short-cycle tertiary education in Ireland peaked at 43.7% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 23.1%, in 2006.
Ireland ranks 3rd of 40 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 18 years of available data.
Educational attainment rate … short-cycle tertiary non-immigrant in Ireland, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 23.1% | — |
| 2007 | 25.8% | +11.8% |
| 2008 | 26.5% | +2.9% |
| 2009 | 27.5% | +3.9% |
| 2010 | 29.0% | +5.3% |
| 2011 | 29.4% | +1.4% |
| 2012 | 30.7% | +4.3% |
| 2013 | 31.5% | +2.6% |
| 2014 | 31.0% | -1.6% |
| 2015 | 32.2% | +4.0% |
| 2016 | 32.0% | -0.7% |
| 2017 | 34.8% | +8.9% |
| 2018 | 34.5% | -1.0% |
| 2019 | 35.1% | +1.7% |
| 2020 | 37.2% | +5.9% |
| 2021 | 39.4% | +5.9% |
| 2022 | 40.1% | +1.7% |
| 2023 | 43.7% | +9.2% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 43.7% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 31.0%, 1.4× the median. (32 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 43.7% is above the median for high income countries, which is 30.4%, 1.4× the median. (33 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 25.7% | 23.1% | 27.5% | 4 |
| 2010s | 32.0% | 29.0% | 35.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 40.1% | 37.2% | 43.7% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
- 1 United States 48.5% compare
- 2 Armenia 45.0% compare
- 4 Cyprus 41.4% compare
- 5 Netherlands 39.6% compare
- 6 Sweden 37.9% compare
More education data for Ireland
- Gender gap education levels, gaps filled 99.47 (2022)
- Primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled 98.19 (2022)
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 32,531 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 1,942 (2022)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 52,745 (2022)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 49,975 (2022)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 456,625 (2022)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 548,873 (2022)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -1.49 % change on previous year (2022)
Frequently asked questions
- What is educational attainment rate, completed short-cycle tertiary education in Ireland?
- Educational attainment rate, completed short-cycle tertiary education in Ireland was 43.7% in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest educational attainment rate, completed short-cycle tertiary education recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 43.7% in 2023.
- What is the lowest educational attainment rate, completed short-cycle tertiary education recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 23.1% in 2006.
- How does Ireland rank for educational attainment rate, completed short-cycle tertiary education?
- Ireland ranks 3rd out of 40 countries with data for 2023.
- Is educational attainment rate, completed short-cycle tertiary education rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 39.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Ireland data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Educational attainment rate, completed short-cycle tertiary education or higher, population 25+ years, non-immigrant background, male (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 18 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release